Hortus Malabaricus

 Hortus Malabaricus 

Hortus Malabaricus Full Details 

Hortus Malabaricus is a 17th century treatise on the medicinal plants of the Malabar region in Kerala, India. It was compiled by Dutch botanist Hendrik van Rheede and published in Amsterdam between 1678 and 1693. The work is considered one of the most comprehensive and authoritative works on the flora of the Indian subcontinent.

Hortus Malabaricus 

The Hortus Malabaricus consists of 12 volumes, each containing detailed descriptions and illustrations of the plants found in the Malabar region. The text is written in Latin, with Malayalam and Konkani names of the plants, and the illustrations are done in watercolors by local artists.

The work was commissioned by the Dutch East India Company, which had established a presence in the Malabar region in the early 17th century. Van Rheede, who was the Governor of the Dutch Malabar region from 1669 to 1676, undertook the project to document the rich flora of the region and to study the medicinal properties of the plants.

The Hortus Malabaricus is notable for its detailed descriptions of the medicinal properties of the plants, including their use in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. It includes over 700 species of plants, many of which were previously unknown to European botanists.

The publication of the Hortus Malabaricus was a major achievement in the history of botany and medicine. It played an important role in the development of modern medicine, as many of the plants described in the work were later found to have important medicinal properties.

Today, the Hortus Malabaricus is considered a valuable historical document and is studied by scholars and researchers in the fields of botany, medicine, and history. Several editions and translations of the work have been published over the years, making it more accessible to a wider audience.

If you're looking for study materials on the Hortus Malabaricus, you can start by reading the original text, which is available online and in print. You can also find translations and commentaries on the work, as well as scholarly articles and books on the history of botany and medicine in India. Some universities and research institutions may also offer courses or seminars on the Hortus Malabaricus and related topics.